In Chapter CXLIX, Voltaire discusses the Magellan expedition, particularly focusing on the Mariana Islands. He elaborates on the islands’ local produce, vegetarian diet, housing, and religious practices. The chapter also features historical figures, such as Don Henri and Pope Alexander VI, and concludes with a brief discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of colonialism.

In this chapter, Voltaire discusses the expedition of Christopher Columbus, highlighting the challenges of securing sponsorships, including failed attempts in England, Portugal and France, before finally gaining support from Spain under Queen Isabella I of Castile. The chapter details Columbus’ discovery of the Santo Domingo Islands, the Caribbean, and Jamaica, amongst others, and explores his resourcefulness in addressing the scepticism and jealousy of his critics. Voltaire also discusses Amerigo Vespucci and his expeditions, as well as the indigenous peoples of the Americas, their physical characteristics, customs, and interactions with the Spaniards. The chapter concludes with a discussion of America’s flora and fauna, as well as the Columbian Exchange, the laws regulating Spanish trade and the disadvantages of the Columbian expeditions, including Spanish emigration driven by colonisation and the spread of infections, to mention a few.

In this chapter, Voltaire explores human ambition for exploration and discovery, focusing on expeditions related to the compass and featuring notable figures such as Flavio Gioja and Nicholas of Lynn, among others. Voltaire also examines the discoveries of Prince Henry the Navigator, including Madeira Island and reflects on Africa, addressing differences between white individuals and people of colour. Additionally, the author considers figurative rather than scientistic portrayal of astral poles in Dante’s Divine Comedy, as well as the expeditions of Vasco da Gama and other Portuguese explorers.

The Spanish poets named are:-Conde de Salinas [Diego de Silva?], Bernardo Vieira, [?Jorge] Montemayor, Don Juan de Sandobal, Don Joseph de Barcia y Zembrana, Bishop of Cadiz, and Lope de Vega Carpio. The Portuguese poets are:-Violante do Ceo, Francisco de Matos, Conde de Cocolim, Pedro de Quadros, Pedro Duarte Ferrð, Jorge da Camara, Gregorio de Matos, Frei Pedro de Sa-Doninicano, Don Francisco de Portugal, Ignacio Monteiro, Frei Manoel de S. Joseph, Antonio Barbora Barcelar, Francisco Roiz Lobo, and Antonio Serrað. At f. 175 is a paraphrase in French verse of the hymn, “Ave verum corpus,” and a copy of “Vere, de NI, Harouet [François Arouet de Voltaire?] à Mr [Louis] Racine sur son Poème sur la Grace.”